Synchronous Meteorological Satellite

The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) program, was a program where NASA developed two weather satellites; which were placed into geosynchronous orbit.

Illustration of a Synchronous Meteorological Satellite

History

SMS-1 was launched May 17, 1974 and SMS-2 was launched February 6, 1975.[1][2] Both satellites were carried to orbit by Delta 2914 rockets.[3] The program was initiated after the successes achieved by the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) research satellites, which demonstrated the feasibility of using satellites in geosynchronous orbit for meteorology. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program, which now supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorology research in the United States, followed immediately after the SMS program; the GOES 1 satellite was initially designated SMS-C.[4] SMS-1 and SMS-2; and GOES-1, GOES-2, and GOES-3; were essentially identical.[5]

List of SMS satellites
DesignationLaunch Date/Time (UTC)RocketLaunch SiteLongitudeFirst ImageStatusRetirementRemarks
LaunchOperational

SMS series satellites

SMS-ASMS-1May 17, 1974Delta 2914
SMS-BSMS-2February 6, 1975Delta 2914

SMS-derived satellites

SMS-C
GOES-A		GOES 1October 16, 1975, 22:40Delta 2914CCAFS LC-17AOctober 25, 1975RetiredMarch 7, 1985[6]
SMS-D
GOES-B		GOES 2June 16, 1977, 10:51Delta 2914CCAFS LC-17B60°WRetired1993[7]Reactivated as comsat in 1995,[7] finally deactivated in May 2001
SMS-E
GOES-C		GOES 3June 16, 1978, 10:49Delta 2914CCAFS LC-17BRetired1993[8]Reactivated as comsat in 1995,[8] still operational

References
  1. "SMS 1 - NSSDC ID: 1974-033A". NASA NSSDC.
  2. "SMS 2 - NSSDC ID: 1975-011A". NASA NSSDC.
  3. Jonathan McDowell. "Launch Log".
  4. "GOES 1 - NSSDC ID: 1975-100A". NASA NSSDC.
  5. "SMS". NASA SMD.
  6. "GOES-1". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-05-12. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  7. "GOES-2". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-04-22. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  8. "GOES-3". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-04-22. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
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